CVE-2025-53540 CSRF Vulnerability in Firmware Update Endpoints Allows Remote Code Execution
Attackers can exploit CSRF in firmware update endpoints to upload and execute arbitrary firmware on ESP32 devices, leading to remote code execution.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- A user has to click or open something
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2025-53540?
CVE-2025-53540 is a high-severity vulnerability in espressif arduino-esp32, published on 7 Jul 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Official description
arduino-esp32 is an Arduino core for the ESP32, ESP32-S2, ESP32-S3, ESP32-C3, ESP32-C6 and ESP32-H2 microcontrollers. Several OTA update examples and the HTTPUpdateServer implementation are vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF). The update endpoints accept POST requests for firmware uploads without CSRF protection. This allows an attacker to upload and execute arbitrary firmware, resulting in remote code execution (RCE). This vulnerability is fixed in 3.2.1.
Weakness: CWE-352
Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-53540?
How do I fix CVE-2025-53540?
No fix has been published for CVE-2025-53540 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Is CVE-2025-53540 being exploited?
It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2025-53540 exists.
Sources
Also known as GHSA-9vfw-wx65-c872.